poetry by j matthew waters

beyond next prosaic hill

champagne corks will pop like wild
wild west pistols shooting for the moon
like fireworks on the fourth of july
quickly consumed by darker forces
many will die but many will take their place
and they will do it over and over again
time and time again
for the sake of exercise
repeating without comprehending
more champagne follows each advance
short celebrations followed by praise
more ale for brothers and sisters in arms
their invisible halos dying to be seen